Toe lasting machines



Jan. 8, 1963 w. J. BROTCHIE 3,071,789

TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 nven tor War/fer Brofc/vie By his Attorney W- J. BROTCHIE Jan. 8, 1963 TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1961 4 SheetsSheet 2 an- 8, 1963 w. J. BROTCHIE 3,071,789

TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 T 76 fi T /6 a T T Jan. 8, 1963 w. J. BROTCHIE 3,071,789

. TOE LASTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 r T 2/2 i l as United States Patent Cflice 3,071,789 Patented Jan. 8, 1963 3,071,789 7 TOE LASTING MACHINES Walter J. Brotchie, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass., acorporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 93,932 9 Claims. (Cl. 12-8.8)

This invention relates to toe lasting machines and is herein illustrated as embodied in a power operated toe lasting machine constructed substantially as disclosed in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 2,596,169, granted May 13, 1952 on an application filed in the names of Leonard E. Proulx and Roscoe L. Hill. It will be understood, of course, that in its various aspects the invention is not limited to'a machine of that type or to theparticular mechanical structure herein shown.

In the machine of the mentioned patent, the upper materials are wiped upwardly around the toe end of the last on which the upper materials are assembled together with an insole, by toe embracing wipers arranged to move first heightwise of the last for that purpose and thereafter for advancing and closing movements extending lengthwise of the last to wipe the marginal portions of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of the insole. During the heightwise movement of the wipers the'marginal portions of the upper materials are clamped yieldingly against the upper surfaces of the wipers by means of a. so-called retarder so that as the heightwise movement of the wipers continues, these marginal portions are drawn out from between the retarder and the upper surface of the wipers and a heightwise pull is thus applied to the upper materials'which facilitates the shaping of these materials to the toe end of the last. It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved retarder and operating mechanism therefor whereby the upwiping and tensioning of the upper materials around the toe end of the last is further facilitated and a much better control over the upper materials during these operations is obtained.

With the foregoing object in view and in accordance with features of this invention, the novel and improved retarder comprises a relatively thin strip of metal of sub stantially uniform thickness which is formed into a shape to conform to the edge contour of the toe end of a lastof a particular style, range of sizes and foot (i.e., right foot or left foot); and provided with opposite parallel side edges, and operating mechanism is provided for causing this retarder to clamp the marginal portions of the upper materials against the front operating edges of the wipers during heightwise movement of the wipers. More particularly, means are provided for detachably securing the novel retarder to a supporting means with oneof its side edges down so that it may be readily removed and replaced by a retarder shaped to conform to a last of diiferent style or a-different run of sizes, or inverted with its other side edge down to conform to the toe end of a'last of the opposite foot (i.e., right or left). The supporting means is mounted for movements extending heightwise and lengthwise of the last, and the retarder operating mechanism is adaptedto effect movements of the supporting means to cause the retarder to clamp the marginal portion of the upper materials against the front operating edges of the wipers as the wipers move heightwise so that a heightwise pull is exerted on the upper materials and, at the same time, the upper materials are conformed to the edge contour of the last by the retarder and the wipers. Preferably, and as herein illustrated, the operatmechanism is adapted to effect heightwise movement of the retarder at a greater rate than the rate of heightwise-movement of thewipers so that the retarder is elevated slightly above the upper surfaces'of the wipers by the time theheightwise movement of the wipers is terminated with the wipers in the wiping plane. Accordingly, the wipers, as they are advanced and closed, tend to draw the marginal portions of the upper materials out from between their upper surfaces and the retarder and a continued control of the upper material during the overwiping action is thus provided. Also, the retarder supporting means is arranged to provide for a yielding of the retarder, as well as an insoleholddown which is also car ried thereby, in directions extending lengthwise of the shoe with the wipers during an initial stage in their advancing and closing movements, before the retarder and holddown are elevated above the wipers fully to release the marginal portions of the upper materials for wiping inwardly over the toe end of the insole by the wipers, thereby permitting the aforementioned continued control of the upper materials by the retarder.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the'preferred embodiment which is shown in the accompanying drawings and will'be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a toe lasting machine embodying features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation and at an enlarged scale of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View in side elevation of a part of that 'portion of the machine which is shown in FIG. 2 and with certain parts shown in vertical section;

FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section takensubstantially on line IVIV in FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views in side elevation and with certain parts in section of operating elements of the machine shown in different positions assumed during the operation of the machine.

Referring to these drawings, the machine therein illustrated is, except as will appear below, substantially the same as the machine shown and described in detail in the above-mentioned patent. Thus, this machine is provided with a pair of toe embracing wipers, one of which appears in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5-8, and is therein identified by the reference character 2, an abutment plate 4 against which the toe end of a shoe to be lasted, herein illustrated as comprising an upper, lining and box toe, all indicated generally by the reference character U, assembled on a last L with an insole I, is clamped by a toe rest 22 to support the shoe during the toe lasting operation. Rear- Ward movement of the shoe, during the advancing and closing movements of the wipers, is'prevented by the engagement of a heel rest 24, FIG. 1, with the heel end of the shoe. As in the patented machine, operative movements, including movement heightwise of the shoe to be lasted and advancing and closing movements lengthwise of the shoe, are imparted to the wipers, which are mounted on a wiper carrier 108, by mechanism including levers 120, 134 and 142, a link 118, and cam tracks 1-26, 13 8 and 143 formed on cams associated with a main drive shaft 128, FIG. 1.

The parts'so far described correspond exactly with similar parts of the machine of the mentioned patent and for convenience are being identified with the 'same reference characters. Reference may be made to the mentioned patent for an explanation of the manner 'in which an automatic cycle of operations is effected by means of a single revolution of the shaft 128 which, in

turn, is initiated in response to the depression of a starting treadle, not shown, and during which cycle of operations the upper materials U are first shaped around the toe end of the last and then are wiped inwardly over and pressedaga'inst the' bottom surface'of the insole of the last to which adhesive has been previously applied for securing the marginal portion of the outer layer of the upper materials to the insole in lasted position. As in the patented machine, the operating cycle may be automatically interrupted to cause the wipers to dwell on the upper for a desired period until the treadle is again depressed to effect completion of the cycle of operations.

A retarder member 18 is provided for cooperating with the wipers during the heightwise movement of the wipers to shape the upper materials around the toe end of the last, this retainer corresponding in a general way to the retarder 18 of the patented machine but being of a novel and improved construction and mode of operation now to be described. Referring to FIGS. 2-8, this novel retarder comprises a relatively thin strip of metal of uniform thickness which is formed into a shape to conform on its inner concave side with the edge contour of the toe end of the last and having side edges a-a and end edges b-b, FIG. 2. Thus, at least with lasts of most styles, the retarder will be of a non-symmetrical shape as viewed in plan, FIG. 4, and with reference to a vertical plane located midway between the opposite end edges of the retarder and extending in the direction indicated by the line XX in FIG. 4. As will be apparent, the retarder 18, when in the position shown in FIG; 4, is adapted for use with a left shoe of a particular range of sizes and style of last, while by inverting the retarder, it will be adapted for use with the right shoe of the same size and style of last.

For the foregoing purpose, the retarder 18 is detachably secured, in a manner now to be described, to the lower portion of a U-shaped holder 200 which fits over and is adjustably mounted on the lower arm of a lever 202 by means of a cross shaft 204 and a clamp screw 206 which passes through an adjusting slot 203 on one side of the holder, FIG. 3. At its extreme lower end, the holder 200 has an outstanding boss 210, FIG. 4, in which there is mounted a dowel pin 212 adapted to enter a hole 214 in the retarder, this hole being centered between the opposite side edges a, a and opposite end edges :5, b of the retarder. The cross shaft 204 extends beyond the opposite sides of the lower portion of the holder 200 and has right and left-hand threaded portions 220, 222 on which there are mounted clamping blocks 224, 226. These blocks bear against flat surfaces 228, 230) formed on lateral extensions of the lower part of the holder 200 and have forwardly projecting portions 232, 234, FIG. 4. At their outer ends, these projections are formed with ledges 236, 238 and adjacent flat surfaces 240, 242. As will be apparent, when the clamping blocks 224, 226 are moved toward each other, as a result of rotation of the shaft 204 in one direction by a hand knob 243, and into engagement with the opposite end portions of a retarder 18 mounted on the pin 212, the retarder will be sprung over so slightly to cause its end edges b-b to press firmly against the ledges 236, 238, thus holding the retarder securely in place on the holder 200. When thus secured to the holder, the side edge a of the retarder which is uppermost will bear against shoulders 244, 246 formed on the blocks 224, 226, thus supporting the retarder against upward movement, while additional support in this direction is also provided by the pin 212. Rotation of the shaft 204 in the opposite direction will, of course, release the retarder for removal and inversion for use with a shoe for the opposite foot, or for replacement by a retarder for use with a last of a different style and/or range of sizes.

The lever 202, which corresponds to the bar 284 of the machine disclosed in the mentioned patent, is pivotally mounted on the bifurcated outer end of an arm 316, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which is loosely mounted on a rockshaft 318 supported in bearings formed on a head casting 320 on the top of the machine frame, FIG. 1. .Integral with the arm 316 is an arm 322 which is adjustably connected by means including a spindle 324 to one arm 326 of a three-armed lever 328 secured to the rockshaft 318 and, as is explained in detail in the mentioned patent, by turning the spindle 324, the angular relation of arm 316 and 326 may be changed to vary the initial posh tion of the retarder 18 heightwise of a shoe in the ma chine. Fast on one end of the rockshaft 318 is an arm 338 which is connected by means of a downwardly extending link 340 to one arm 344 of a bell-crank lever 346 mounted to turn on a shaft 348. The other arm 350 of this lever carries a roll 352 arranged to engage the periphery of a cam 354 fast on the main drive shaft 128 which has been mentioned above. A spring 356 con= nected to the bell-crank lever tends to swing this lever in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 and thus to move the retarder in a downward direction. This action is supplemented by the action of another spring 358 connected at one end to a second arm 360 of the three-armed lever 328. As the retarder 18 is moved upwardly by the action of rises c and d on the cam 354, in a manner about to be described, it is controlled with regard to movements lengthwise of the shoe by a cam plate 368 having a cam track 370 in which there is posi= tioned a roll 372 carried on the upper arm of the lever 202. This cam plate is pivotally mounted on a pin 374 on the head casting 320 and has pivotally connected to its lower end a rod 376 extending rearwardly through an opening in the casting. Threaded onto this rod are a collar 378 and a nut 380 by means of which the plate 368 may be adjusted about the pin 374.

The parts referred to in the preceding paragraph correspond with similar parts of the patented machine, and for ease of identification they are, with the exception of the lever 202, designated by the same reference characters used in the patent. However, for the purposes of this invention, the cooperative action of the retarder 18 and the wipers 2 has been modified and improved in the manner now to be explained. Referring to FIG. 3, before the machine is started, the various operating elements assume the positions shown so that the shoe to be lasted may be placed and held by the operator in the position shown with the upper materials U outspread over the wipers and with the toe end of the last L received by the retarder 18. As noted above, this retarder is formed into a shape to conform on its inside concave face to the edge contour of the toe end of the last thereby facilitating and assuring accurate alinement of the forepart center line of the last with the longitudinal center line of the wipers.

In response to an initial depression of the starting treadle, not shown, an automatic cycle of operations is initiated, and during an early stage in this cycle the foreport of the shoe is firmly clamped against an abutment plate 4 by the toe rest 22, the heel rest 24 is moved into engagement with the heel end of the shoe, and the wipers are elevated and advanced slightly to the position shown in FIG. 5. The lengthwise adjustment of the wipers, which is effected in the manner explained and by mechanism similar to that disclosed in the mentioned patent, is such that the operating front edges of the wipers are now directly opposed to the outer convex face of the retarder 18 and with the marginal portions of the upper materials located therebetween. As the operating cycle continues, the retarder 18 and the wipers 2 are elevated by their respective cams 354 and 136 and the retarder is displaced lengthwise toward the wipers by the action of the cam 370 which is so shaped as to swing the lever 202 in a counterclockwise direction. As a result of such lengthwise displacement of the retarder, the marginal portions of the upper materials are clamped against the front operating edges of the wipers so that, as the retarder and the wipers are elevated, the upper materials are tensioned heightwise about and shaped around the toe end of the last. It will be understood that at this time the wipers are closed to a point where their operating edges conform to the edge contour 'of the toe end of the last and hence to the outer convex face of the retarder. Thus, the upper materialsare actually conformed to the edge contour of the toe end of the last as they are tensioned by the wipers and retarder.

The elevation of the retarder is effected byth e gradual rise on the cam 354 which is so shaped that the retarder is moved heightwise at a rate which is somewhat greater than the rate of upwardmovement of the wipers, effected by cam 143.. Accordingly, and as showntin FIG. 6, just before the wipers reach their wiping plane, i .e., are elevated slightly above the plane of theinsole I, the lower edge a of the retarder 18 will be elevated to apoint slightly below the upper sides of the wipers. Now, as the wipers reach their wiping plane the retarder will be elevated above the wipers and as the wipers are advanced and closed, the marginal portion of the outer layer of the upper materials will be folded back over the wipers and eventually drawn out from between the lower edge of the retarder and the upper sides of the wipers. As can be seen in FIG. 1, there is a slight dwell'between the rises c and b on the cam 354 so that the retarder 18 remains in the heightwise position shown in 'FIG. 7 for a short interval before it is quickly elevated above the wipers by the rise d, FIG. 8. During this interval, if the pressure of the upper against the retarder is sufiicient, the retarder may yield in the direction of movement of the wipers, i. e., to the left, FIGS.-6 and 7, such yielding of the retarder being permitted by the provision of a cutaway portion 370a on the cam track 370, FIG. 1, and a tension spring 371 connected to the upper arm of the lever 202, In common with the machine of the mentioned patent, the cycle of operations may be automatically brought to a stop with the wipers exerting downward pressure on the marginal portion of the upper materials which has been wiped inwardly over the toe end of the insole and, following a desired dwell ofthe wipers, the machine may be restarted and the cycle of operations completed in the usual manner. As in the machine of the patent, the herein illustrated machine is provided with an insole holddown 390, while differing slightly in exact mechanical construction from the holddown of the patented machine, the herein illustrated holddown serves the sarnepurpose and is operated in substantially the same manner as in the patented machine. Thus, the holddown390 is mounted on the lower part of a slide 404 which is mounted in guideways in the holder 200. Associated with this slide is a pushrod 403 which extends upwardly thereabove and through a guide block 405 whichis secured to the holder 200 by screws 407. When there is no shoe in the machine, the holddown is moved downwardly by a coil spring 410 connected to the push-rod 403 to the extent permitted by stop abutments'42t} and 422, FIG. 3. Extending laterally from the slide 404 is an arm 424, FIG. 2, from which there extends upwardly a link 436 threaded at 'itsupper endto receive a nut 434. This link extends through a hole in the outer end of a third arm 432 of the threearmed lever 328 which is mentioned above. As in the machine of the mentioned patent, when the retarder 18 is moved quickly upwardly and away from the upper sides of the Wipers by the rapid rise d on the cam 354, the insole holddown 390 will be likewise elevated as shown in FIG. 8, out of the way of the advancing and closing wipers. However, if the elevation of the insole holddown is delayed by suitable adjustment of nut 434, the holddown may be pushed to the left by the advancing wipers against the resistance of spring 371 before it is' elevated.

As suggested above, the improved retarder of this invention is shaped to conform to the edge'contour of the toe end of a last of a particular style and range of sizes.

In the latter connection, it will beunder stood'that the use of one retarder for a range of sizes is practical bepause of thevery close similarity of the edge contours of 'the toe end of lasts of slightly different sizes which, of course, is thesame reason that one pair of wipers may be, and in fact'is used for a range of sizes. Thus the retardens for usewith'the particular style of last may be charted and changed in the same manner as are the wipers for different rangesof sizes. Also, of course, by virtue of the mannerin which the improved retarder is mounted, it may be inverted on its support to accommodate a right ora left shoeint-he same manner as are the wipers.

Referring to FIG. 6, it will be observed that during the application of the heightwise pull to the marginal portions of the upper materials, these materials are, in fact, shaped exactly to the edge contour of the toe end of the last by being confined between the outer convex surface of the retarder and the concave surface provided by the operating edge of the wipers, which surfaces, of course, correspond in shape to the edge contour of the last. Accordingly, the upper materials will be clamped against the operating edges of the wipers with a uniform pressure throughout the entire length of the retarder so that a uniform pull is applied and the formation of folds or of wrinkles in the upper materials as they are tensioned heightwise about and shaped around the toe end of thelast is definitely avoided. As the wipers are advanced and closed, that portion of the lasting margin of the outermost layer of the upper materials which is adjacent to the bottom face of the insole is still held in this desired shape by the action of the retarder in folding the lasting margin of this outer layer back over the upper sides of the wipers thereby maintaining a continued control over the material duringthe initial advancing and closing movements of the wipers. -As a result, a very smooth and sharply defined feather line is assured.

, As will be seen by reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, in clamping the marginal portions of the upper materials against the front operating edges of the wipers, the retarder moves lengthwise of the shoe away from the toe end of the last. Accordingly, during its subsequent movement heightwise of the last, together with the wipers, there is no chance that the insole may be engaged and displaced by the retarder.

By clamping the upper materials against the front operating edges of the wiper, it becomes possible to maintain this clamping act-ion on all layers of the upper materials throughout the entire upwiping movement of the wipers even though some of these layers are cut back,

as shown. In addition, undue stretching'of the marginal portion of the upper materials, necessarily involved where these materials are clamped flatly against the upper surface of the wipers by theretarder and then drawn out from between theretarder and the wipers in this flattened condition, is avoided. This greatly facilitates the subsequent wiping of the marginal portion of the upper materials inwardly over the bottom of theme end of the insole. 7

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: V

l. Ina machine for lasting the toe ends of shoes, 21 support for a shoe comprising an upper and an insole assembled on a last, toe em-bracing wipers mounted for movement first heightwise of a shoe on the support for shaping the upper around the toe end of the last and thereafter for advancing and closihg movements'leng th- Wise of thelast for wiping the marginal portion of the upper-inwardly over the toe end of the insolejrneans for thus moving the wiperspa retarder, a support for the retarder, meansmounting the last-mentioned support for movements in directions extending heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe, andmeans for so moving the retarder support as to cause the retarder to clamp the marginal portion of the upper against the'frontoperating edges of the wipers between the wipers and the last as the retarder and wipers move heightwise of the shoe so that the wipers and retarder exert a heightwise pull on the upper as it is wiped heightwise of the last.

2. In a machine for lasting the toe ends of shoes, a support for a shoe comprising an upper and an insole assembled on a last, toe embracing wipers mounted for movement first heightwise of a shoe on the support for shaping the upper around the toe end of the last and thereafter for advancing and closing movements lengthwise of the last for wiping the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the toe end of the insole, means for thus moving the wipers, a retarder comprising a relatively thin strip of metal of substantially uniform thickness formed into a shape to conform to the edge contour of the toe end of the last, a support for the retarder, means mounting the last-mentioned support for movements in directions extending heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe, and means for so moving the retarder support as to cause the retarder to clamp the marginal portion of the upper against the front operating edges of the wipers between the wipers and the last as the retarder and wipers move heightwise of the shoe so that the wiper and retarder exert a heightwise pull on the upper as it is wiped heightwise er t e rash I w p 3; In a machine for lasting the toe ends of shoes, a support for a shoe comprising an upper and an insole assembled on a last, toe embracing wipers mounted for movement first heightwise of a shoe on the support for shaping the upper around the to e end of the last and thereafter for advancing and closing movements length= wise of the last for wiping the marginal portion of the ripper inwardly over the toe and of the insole, means for time moving the wipers, a retarder, a support for the retarder, means mounting the last-mentioned support for movements in directions extending heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe, and means for so moving the retarder support as to cause the retarder to clamp the marginal portion of the upper against the from operating edges of the wipers between the Wipers and the last as the retarde'r and wipers mpve hei htwi eef the shoe so that the wiper and retarder exert a heightwise pull on the upper as it is wiped heightwise of the last, said support moving means being adapted to eflect heightwise movement of the retarder at a rate greater than the rate of heightwise movement of the wipers and such that the lower edge of the retarder is elevated slightly above the upper sides of the wipers when the heightwise movement of the wipers is terminated with the wipers in their wiping plane and before the wipers are advanced and closed.

4. In a machine for lasting the toe ends of shoes, a support for a shoe comprising an upper and an insole assembled on a last, toe embracing wipers mounted for movement first heightwise of a shoe on the support for shaping the upper around the toe end of the last and thereafter for advancing and closing movements lengthwise of the last for wiping the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the toe end of the insole, means for thus moving the wipers, a retarder comprising a relatively thin strip of metal of substantially uniform thickness formed into a shape to conform to the edge contour of the toe end of the last, a support for the retarder, means mounting the last-mentioned support for movements in directions extending heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe, and means for so moving the retarder support as to cause the retarder to clamp the marginal portion of the upper against the front operating edges of the wipers between the wipers and the last as the retarder and wipers move heightwise of the shoe so that the wiper and retarder exert a heightwise pull on the upper as it is wiped heightwise of the last, said support moving means being adapted to effect heightwise movement of the retarder at a rate greater than the rate of heightwise movement of the wipers and such that the lower edge of the retarder is elevated slightly above the upper sides of the wipers when the heightwise movement of the wipers is terminated with the wipers in their wiping plane and before the wipers are advanced and closed.

5. In a machine for lasting the toe ends of shoes, a support for a shoe comprising an upper and an insole assembled on a last, toe embracing wipers mounted for movement first heightwise of a shoe on the support for shaping the upper around the toe end of the last and thereafter for advancing and closing movements lengthwise of the last for wiping the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the toe end of the insole, means for thus moving the wipers, a retarder, a support for the retarder, means mounting the last-mentioned support for movements in directions extending heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe, and means for so moving the retarder support as to cause the retarder to clamp the marginal portion of the upper against the front operating edges of the wipers between the wipers and the last as the retarder and Wipers move heightwise of the shoe so that the wiper and retarder exert a heightwise pull on the upper as it is wiped heightwise of the last, said support movingmeans being adapted to effect heightwise movement of the retarder at a rate greater than the rate of heightwise movement of the wipers and such that the lower edge of the retarder is elevated slightly above the upper sides of the wipers when the heightwise movement of the wipers is terminated with the wipers in their wiping plane and before the wipers are advanced and closed, and said support mounting means being arranged to provide a yielding of the retarder in a direction extending lengthwise of the shoe with the wipers during an initial stage in the advancing and closing movements of the wipers.

6. In a machine for lasting the toe ends of shoes, a support for a shoe comprising an upper and an insole assembled on a last, toe embracing wipers mounted for movement first heightwise of a shoe on the support for shaping the upper around the toe end of the last and thereafter for advancing and closing movements lengthwise of the last for wiping the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the toe end of the insole, means for thus moving the wipers, a retarder comprising a relatively' thin strip of metal of substantially uniform thickness formed into a shape to conform to the edge contour of the toe end of the last, a support for the retarder, means mounting the last-mentioned support for move-t ments in directions extending heightwise and lengthwise of the shoe, and means for so moving the retarder support as to cause the retarder to clamp the marginal portion of the upper against the front operating edges of the wipers between the wipers and the last as the retarder and wipers move heightwise of the shoe so that the wiper and retarder exert a heightwise pull on the upper as it is wiper heightwise of the last, said support moving means being adapted to effect heightwise movement of the retarder at a rate greater than the rate of heightwise movement of the wipers and such that the lower edge of the retarder is elevated slightly above the upper sides of the wipers when the heightwise movement of the wipers is terminated with the Wipers in their wiping plane and before the wipers are advanced and closed, and said support mounting means being arranged to provide a yielding of the retarder in a direction extending lengthwise of the shoe with the wipers during an initial stage in the advancing and closing movements of the wipers.

7. In a machine for lasting the toe ends of shoes, toe embracing wipers for wiping the upper materials of a shoe heightwise of the toe end of a last and for thereafter wiping the marginal portions of the upper materials inwardly over the toe end of an insole on the last, a re tarder for cooperating with said wipers, a support for said retarder mounted for movements heightwise and lengthwise of the last, said retarder being shaped to conform to the edge contour of the toe end of the last and having parallel opposite side edges, and means for detachably 10 prising a relatively thin strip of metal of substantially uniform thickness formed into a shape to conform to the edge contour of the toe end of a last and having parallel opposite side edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Macdonald Aug. 5, 1952 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR LASTING THE TOE ENDS OF SHOES, A SUPPORT FOR A SHOE COMPRISING AN UPPER AND AN INSOLE ASSEMBLED ON A LAST, TOE EMBRACING WIPERS MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT FIRST HEIGHTWISE OF A SHOE ON THE SUPPORT FOR SHAPING THE UPPER AROUND THE TOE END OF THE LAST AND THEREAFTER FOR ADVANCING AND CLOSING MOVEMENTS LENGTHWISE OF THE LAST FOR WIPING THE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE UPPER INWARDLY OVER THE TOE END OF THE INSOLE, MEANS FOR THUS MOVING THE WIPERS, A RETARDER, A SUPPORT FOR THE RETARDER, MEANS MOUNTING THE LAST-MENTIONED SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENTS IN DIRECTIONS EXTENDING HEIGHTWISE AND LENGTHWISE OF THE SHOE, AND MEANS FOR SO MOVING THE RETARDER SUPPORT AS TO CAUSE THE RETARDER TO CLAMP THE MARGINAL PORTION OF THE UPPER AGAINST THE FRONT OPERATING EDGES OF THE WIPERS BETWEEN THE WIPERS AND THE LAST AS THE RETARDER AND WIPERS MOVE HEIGHTWISE OF THE SHOE SO THAT THE WIPERS AND RETARDER EXERT A HEIGHTWISE PULL ON THE UPPER AS IT IS WIPED HEIGHTWISE OF THE LAST. 